Slauson signs with Chargers

[Driven_Phinsane!]

I think we might've missed the boat on this one...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...an-ol-slauson/

[FTLDOLFAN]

I never really expected it would happen. I would be shocked if we even sign Leon Hall.

[DolphinsFreak]

Winston, Evans and now Slauson. Every season there is a player sitting there in free agency that would be a perfect fit for the Dolphins at a position they are their weakest, but they sit on their hands thinking that the players on their roster will be able to do the job good enough. So far the FANS have been correct every season and the front office has been wrong. I don't expect anything to be different this season from the previous ones. There will be a weakness on the o-line on the right side, unless they are going to somehow get Bushrod into the lineup. Douglas has the most potential, in my opinion, so there is a little hope for the o-line but I am not going to hold my breath on this one.

[FTLDOLFAN]

My guess is that they are higher on Billy Turner than we are. Since it looks like our starting o-line will be Albert, Tunsil, Pouncey, Turner and James. Young and Bushrod would be the backup OT's and Douglas Urbik and either Mclendon or Thomas would be the backup interior linemen.

[cuchulainn]

Yes... they want to see what they have in Turner and Douglas, and have already signed a few vet OGs. Most teams do this sort of thing.

[Idahomer]

If I recall Douglas showed tremendous promise early, in fact didn't he beat Thomas out as starter initially. I think we destroyed his confidence when we put him at center for Pouncey. Either way he's only in his 2nd year and he flashed last season. He has always been known to be a very hard worker in college and I'm hoping he added much needed strength and weight during the off season. I do believe we will find a solid guard in either Turner or Douglas, and if not I'm confident Bushrod or Urbik can man the position and be a huge upgrade over what we got last season.

[cuchulainn]

If I recall Douglas showed tremendous promise early, in fact didn't he beat Thomas out as starter initially. I think we destroyed his confidence when we put him at center for Pouncey. Either way he's only in his 2nd year and he flashed last season. He has always been known to be a very hard worker in college and I'm hoping he added much needed strength and weight during the off season. I do believe we will find a solid guard in either Turner or Douglas, and if not I'm confident Bushrod or Urbik can man the position and be a huge upgrade over what we got last season.

No, Philbin handed LG to Dallas Thomas from the start and after a year or 2 of yanking Thomas around at 3 positions wanted to let him settle in at LG.

As for RG, Philbin liked Douglas better at RG over Billy Turner, even though Turner was the starting RG last pre-season. Once the season started, Douglas sucked at RG in every game up until he got benched and Turner, who is stronger, was put in. Turner struggled as well, but was clearly better and stronger and improved slightly as the season progressed.

Once Philbin stupidly cut our backup OC, and Pouncey was once again injured and lost for the remainder of the season, Douglas came in and was just as terrible at OC. He cost us a game as I recall and was crying afterwards.

The piss poor OL coaching and decisions were part of the reason the rest of the AFCE has dominated us the past 2 seasons.

Still, we've got 5 guys competing for the RG position this season and we're no longer running the ZBS. Let's hope with the addition of Tunsil and some of the new faces, that our OL is vastly improved.